Renewal
License Renewals
All licenses, regardless of issuance date, expire on June 30 of each odd-numbered year and are subject to renewal. Renewal applications are made available about 60 days prior to the license expiration date. Efforts will be made to mail notification to licensees as a courtesy, however, the Hawaii Board of Nursing must be informed in a timely manner of any address changes in writing. If a licensee does not receive a notice at least 30 days prior to the license expiration date, licensee must contact the board or pick one up. Each licensee is ultimately responsible for the renewal of his or her nursing license and at no time may a nurse, whose license has lapsed, continue to practice as a nurse. It is the nurse's duty to inform each employer who is impacted, of the nurse's failure to renew a nursing license on time. Online renewal of a nurse license is available to licensees who have not had any disciplinary action pending or taken or have not had a conviction during the two years prior to the renewal date. If you are eligible for a license near the end of the second year of a two-year license period (within 3 months), you may elect to delay the issuance of your license until July 1, odd-numbered year, provided you do not intend to start practicing nursing until the next license period.
Practice
What is the practice of nursing?
The practice of nursing is a set of interactions that take place between the nurse and the client. The process starts with a detailed assessment of the client’s health care needs. The nurse interviews the client and sometimes the family to obtain the health history as well as the current health status. The nurse physically examines the patient and also reviews the client's medical record including important data such as the results of diagnostic tests. Nursing assessment is followed by developing a plan of care which address the client's ongoing health conditions. The goal of a nursing plan of care is to improve an individual's health status and to prevent future illness. The interventions outlined in a nursing plan of care may include support with activities of daily living as well as highly complex technological services such as ventilator support. It is the nurse's job to observe the effects of the services being provided to each client and to make necessary adjustments. The nurse should always be the patient's advocate and act in the client's best interest.
Licensure
Practical Nurse Licensure Requirements
The National Council Licensure Examination, or NCLEX-PN, is required in order to obtain licensure as an LPN. The exam is developed and administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The NCLEX-PN is a computer-based exam and varies in length. The exam covers four major client needs categories: safe and effective care environment, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity.
Exam
Can I take the NCLEX in a different state?
The NCLEX-PN exam is administered on a computer at approved test sites throughout the United States. First, the nurse graduate chooses a test center where to take the examination. Since all states administer the same exam, it is not required that a candidate sit for the examination in the same state in which he or she applies for licensure. Each exam is individualized according to the responses given to previous test questions but all exams follow a standard plan. A minimum of eighty-five (85) questions must be answered by a candidate in order to determine a pass or fail status. Some candidates may be answering items for up to five hours in order to finish the test. Every question is multiple choice and each item needs to be answered in order to move to the next one. Candidates with disabilities need to notify the test center in order to receive special accommodations. The NCLEX-PN exam has no more than 205 questions but you can pass with only 85 if you answer correctly. Those who fail the test can take it again but must wait at least forty-five days to retest.
Education
How can I prepare for nursing school?
To be successful in nursing school, students need a solid foundation in biology, mathematics and social sciences. It is a good idea for high school students to complete courses in biology, algebra, and chemistry. Obtaining CPR certification is mandatory, since this is a requirement for nursing school. In addition to coursework, nursing students are required to complete hands-on clinical training which gives them experience in a clinical setting. Having prior certification as a nursing assistant is recommended but not required for admission in most LPN programs.
Career
Who are the major employers for LPNs?
Job growth will occur over all healthcare settings but especially those that service the geriatric population like nursing care facilities, community care facilities, and home healthcare services. In order to contain healthcare costs, many procedures once performed only in hospitals are being performed in physicians' offices and in outpatient care centers, largely because of advances in technology. As a result, the number of LPNs should increase faster in these facilities than in hospitals. Nevertheless, hospitals will continue to demand the services of LPNs and will remain one of the largest employers of these workers.
Organizations
Nursys
Nursys is the only national database for verification of nurse licensure, discipline and practice privileges for RNs and LPN/VNs licensed in participating boards of nursing, including all states in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). Nursys provides online verification to a nurse requesting to practice in another state and nurse license lookup reports to employers and the general public.
Cleveland Clinic Free Nursing CMEs
The Center for Continuing Education has been committed to sharing a wealth of knowledge with physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals across the country and all over the world for more than 75 years. The Center for Continuing Education is responsible for one of the largest and most diverse CME programs anywhere.